But really, I have been reading this board since January, and what a funny, exasperating, lovable, annoying, worshipful, questioning, pontificating, sharing, witty and KNOWLEDGEABLE group of humans you are!

I have learned so much from you. Many of you are actually quite intimidating....I can never hope to know so much as you do. However I know I never will unless I start...sooooo.....

I just did my life confession, it was spiritually humbling, but a truly helpful experience for me.In 1983 I was given a Trinitarian Baptism, so this coming weekend I will be Chrismated, God willing, and will be blessed with Holy Communion on the Feast of Dormition (it is the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Monks where I attend Liturgy and Services follow the old calendar).

Please pray for me, and many thanks to those of you who have answered some of my unposted questions without even knowing you helped! Also - Special thanks to Bogdan who helped me through pm's!

Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.A hasty quarrel kindles fire,and urgent strife sheds blood.If you blow on a spark, it will glow;if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both come out of your mouth

She's touring the facility/and picking up slack.--"For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow." Ecclesiastes 1:18--I once believed in causes too, I had my pointless point of view --Life went on no matter who was wrong or right

Many Energies, 3 Persons, 2 Natures, 1 God, 1 Church, 1 Baptism, and 1 Cup. The Son begotten only from the Father, the Spirit proceeding only from the Father, Each glorifying the Other. The Son sends the Spirit, the Spirit Reveals the Son, the Father is seen in the Son. The Spirit spoke through the Prophets and Fathers and does so even today.

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

"For, by its immensity, the divine substance surpasses every form that our intellect reaches. Thus we are unable to apprehend it by knowing what it is. Yet we are able to have some knowledge of it by knowing what it is not." - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, I, 14.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.

I am attending the ST Maximos Skete which is listed last on the list.The Igumen is Father Mefodii

From what I have learned on here the monks are very conservative...we cover heads, bless hands, kiss hands, get blessings, take off shoes, have very long Vespers and Liturgies and Feasts..truly glorious icons....you know - all the things we converts love...(I am being ironically sarcastic here..a bad habit of mine just so you guys understand me!)

But what I have found there, without all the beautiful externals....are true icons of Christ in the people

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.

So yesterday I was Chrismated before Vespers....and today I got to stay for the whole Divine Liturgy and finally participated in the Holy Mysteries!

Thanks Myrrhbear for your LOVELY card!!

I am so blessed, my sponsors gave me delightful reading material and a simply gorgeous silver cross from Jerusalem. It was such a special weekend. I feel so honored to be accepted, unworthy as I am.

The Fathers at the Skete are so caring, they selected my Chrismation name, I was thrilled as I did not know what they selected until we got to that part of the Service. So now I am named after Saint Theodosia of Constantinople, Defender of the Holy Icons. I am so thrilled about this as I would never even be here if it were not for the Holy Icons in the first place.......

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.